Author: chicagoinquirer

by Kevin Freking WASHINGTON  — The longest government shutdown in history could conclude as soon as today, Day 43, with almost no one happy with the final result. Democrats didn’t get the heath insurance provisions they demanded added to the spending deal. And Republicans, who control the levers of power in Washington, didn’t escape blame, according to polls and some state and local elections that went poorly for them. The fallout of the shutdown landed on millions of Americans, including federal workers who went without paychecks and airline passengers who had their trips delayed or canceled. An interruption in nutrition…

by Jay Cohen CHICAGO  — Victor Wembanyama scored 18 of his 38 points in the fourth quarter, and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Chicago Bulls 121-117 on Monday night for their third consecutive win. Wembanyama also grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked five shots. The 7-foot-4 center made six 3-pointers and went 11 for 19 from the field in San Antonio’s first win at Chicago since March 17, 2021. He became the first player in NBA history with at least 35 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, five blocked shots and five 3-pointers in a game. De’Aaron Fox scored 21 points…

by Gerald Imray CAPE TOWN, South Africa  — U.S. President Donald Trump says that his government will boycott the Group of 20 summit this month in South Africa over his claims that a white minority group there is being violently persecuted. Those claims have been widely rejected. Trump announced Friday on social media that no U.S. government official will attend the Nov. 22-23 summit in Johannesburg “as long as these Human Rights abuses continue.” South Africa’s Black-led government has been a regular target for Trump since he returned to office. In February, Trump issued an executive order stopping U.S. financial…

by Mary Clare Jalonick, Lisa Mascaro and Kevin Freking WASHINGTON — The Senate passed legislation Monday to reopen the government, bringing the longest shutdown in history closer to an end as a small group of Democrats ratified a deal with Republicans despite searing criticism from within their party. The 41-day shutdown could last a few more days as members of the House, which has been on recess since mid-September, return to Washington to vote on the legislation. President Donald Trump has signaled support for the bill, saying Monday that “we’re going to be opening up our country very quickly.” The…

by Stephen Groves WASHINGTON  — The senators — eight in total — faced almost instant blowback from Democrats as they broke ranks and voted to allow the Senate to move forward on compromise legislation that would reopen the government. Their decision Sunday night was labeled a “betrayal” and “pathetic” by some of the most prominent voices in the Democratic Party. “To my mind, this was a very, very bad vote,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent who caucuses with Democrats. The group of defectors consisted of several senators who are retiring next year, as well as a number of…

by Mary Clare Jalonick and Lisa Mascaro WASHINGTON  — The Senate was drawing closer to a vote on legislation to end the shutdown on Monday after a small group of Senate Democrats broke a 40-day stalemate late Sunday evening and voted with Republicans to move forward with reopening the government. It is unclear when the Senate will hold final votes on the bill, but Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he hopes passage will take “hours not days.” “The American people have suffered for long enough. Let’s not pointlessly drag this bill out,” he said as the Senate opened on…

by Sarah Raza Chicago police officers responded to a call of gunshots fired at federal agents Saturday amid immigration enforcement operations that drew residents to protest in the streets, the department said. There were no reports of anyone being hit by gunfire, according to police, and the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement on the social platform X that the shots were fired by a man in a black Jeep who was targeting the agents. The suspect and the vehicle have not been located, according to DHS. Tensions are high as federal enforcement has grown increasingly aggressive some…

by Mary Clare Jalonick and Lisa Mascaro WASHINGTON  — Speaker Mike Johnson said Monday that House lawmakers should start returning to Washington “right now” after a small group of Senate Democrats broke a 40-day stalemate late Sunday evening and voted with Republicans to move forward with legislation that would end the government shutdown. It is unclear when the Senate will hold final votes on the legislation. But Johnson said the “nightmare is finally coming to an end” after the Senate voted 60-40 to consider a compromise bill to fund the government. “We have to do this as quickly as possible,”…

by Jay Cohen CHICAGO  — Caleb Williams threw a touchdown pass and scrambled for a go-ahead score in the fourth quarter, helping the Chicago Bears beat Jaxson Dart and the New York Giants 24-20 on Sunday. Led by Williams, Chicago scored the last 14 points after Younghoe Koo’s 19-yard field goal gave New York a 20-10 lead with 10:19 left. C.J. Gardner-Johnson had two sacks for the Bears (6-3), including one on Russell Wilson on a key third down in the final period. Williams sparked the rally with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Rome Odunze, making it 20-17 with 3:56…

by Mary Clare Japonick and Kevin Freking WASHINGTON  — Senators are working through the weekend for the first time since the government shutdown began more than a month ago, hoping to find a bipartisan resolution that has eluded them as federal workers have gone unpaid, airlines have been forced to cancel flights and SNAP benefits have been delayed for millions of Americans. As the weekend session was set to begin Saturday, it was uncertain whether Republicans and Democrats could make any headway toward reopening the government and breaking a partisan impasse that has now lasted 39 days. President Donald Trump…